The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) office has been formed to officially take over the running of major functions in Nairobi County. The moving of essential services started weeks ago after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko signed a deal at State House, shifting some functions to the national government.
On Wednesday, in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders, Mike Sonko and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa signed the penultimate deal with major services and functions fully moved to the national government. Speaking at the function at State House, President Kenyatta said the newly formed Nairobi Metropolitan Services will be led by Major General Mohamed Abdalla Badi as the Director General and he will be deputised by Enos Onyango Momanyi.
The Head of State has given the NMS a timeline, 100 days, to deal with major issues facing the city and its residents. He has tasked them to dismantle cartels and bring an end to corruption, noting cartels in the garbage collection business, parking and water supply. The NMS has 100 days to review and make determination on existing projects and streamline urban renewal projects.
They’ve also been tasked with establishing the Nairobi Railway City master plan and set up a city railway development authority. On traffic and mobility in the city, the NMS will come up with an urban mobility plan, set up pedestrian walkways and establish bus stages at Sessions and Park roads to ease traffic congestion in the city brought about by PSVs.
On garbage collection, President Kenyatta has said NMS should focus on effective garbage collection in collaboration with the National Youth Service (NYS), “All trucks that are grounded must be repaired to increase capacity and they must conduct a serious crackdown on illegal dumpsites and discharge of sewage in rivers,” said President Kenyatta. Revenue collection in Nairobi will now be handled by KRA.